Road Network Impacts on the Poor Simon Lucas, Infrastructure Adviser, DIFD Vietnam Nguyen Quang Khai, Independent Consultant Large scale Infrastructure and poverty reduction Sofitel Plaza Hotel, Hanoi 25 th September 2003

Today's Agenda Part 1 - DFID and Infrastructure - Rural road impacts in Vietnam Part 2 Findings from the perception study on rural connectivity

Infrastructure and development

Lessons learnt in Vietnam High level of demand Institutional, capacity & ownership issues remain critical Infrastructure allows introduction of technology and services but is not an end in itself Rural transport moving from build to maintain Still requires short term increase in sector allocations to reach CPRGS targets and reach the most inaccessible The most disadvantaged areas are paying most

Initial findings from Network study Big disparities in “access” depending on region - closely correlated with depth of poverty There remains a difficulty in whether to prioritize “the most poor or the most poor” Connection to higher level roads are important for certain groups in rural areas Important as the sub-sector provides pre-conditions for rural growth

Poverty Reduction and Development

Don’t forget the waterways Source TDSI/IFRTD sudy on waterways and livelihoods May 2003 funded by DFID

Findings from the perception study on rural connectivity Simon Lucas, Infrastructure Adviser, DIFD Vietnam Nguyen Quang Khai, Independent Consultant Large scale Infrastructure and poverty reduction Sofitel Plaza Hotel, Hanoi 25 th September 2003